Roof module for a motor vehicle body

ABSTRACT

A roof module for a motor vehicle body ( 3 ) includes a reinforcing frame ( 2 ) and a roof panel ( 1 ) that is fastened thereto. The reinforcing frame ( 2 ) can be fastened to the motor vehicle body ( 3 ) by screw connections ( 8 ) and adhesive bonds ( 5 ). A roof module, which is both prefabricated with all accessories as well as painted and which can be placed onto the motor vehicle body ( 3 ) during final assembly is provided with the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) or the roof panel ( 1 ) having, on the edge thereof, a folded flange ( 11 ), which is shaped so that it has a U-shaped profile ( 12 ). An edge strip ( 10, 13 ) of the roof panel ( 1 ) or of the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) engages inside the U-shaped profile ( 12 ) and is bonded therein to the reinforcing frame ( 2 ) or to the roof panel ( 1 ). The roof module is larger in a vertical projection than a roof opening in the motor vehicle body ( 3 ).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Phase application of InternationalApplication PCT/EP2003/001818 and claims the benefit of priority under35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Application DE 102 51 175.6 filed Oct. 31,2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a roof module for a motor vehicle bodycomprising a reinforcing frame and a roof panel that is fastenedthereto, wherein said reinforcing frame can be fastened to the motorvehicle body by means of screw connections and adhesive bonds.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roof modules for motor vehicle bodies are known in different versions. Aprior art version (DE 198 53 820 A1) is introduced as a prefabricatedcomponent, which various accessories are mounted to, through the frontwindow opening into the car body and placed from inside against the roofopening and fastened there. The completion of the car body interior isperformed subsequently, with it being required to temporarily hang-outmotor vehicle body side doors possibly installed already before.

In another version (DE 100 48 130 A1) the roof module features foldableedge strips that are transfolded to be able to introduce the roof modulethrough a roof opening into the motor vehicle body. Subsequently theedge strips are unfolded again and the roof module is placed from insideagainst the motor vehicle body and fastened there. All this is toocostly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, therefore, it is the task of the present invention to provide aprefabricated and lacquered roof module equipped with all accessoriesthat can be put onto the motor vehicle body during final assembly.

This task is solved by a roof module of the species describedhereinabove in that the reinforcing frame or roof panel at its edge hasa folded flange shaped to a U section, and that an edge strip of theroof panel or reinforcing frame engages into the U section and is bondedthere to the reinforcing frame or roof panel, and that the roof modulein a vertical projection is greater than a roof opening in the motorvehicle body. The roof panel and the reinforcing frame may be comprisedof pretreated and prelacquered metal sheets (coil coating) so that thesupplier needs no lacquer coating units. Furthermore, the roof modulemay be provided with all the desired accessories both inside andoutside. The roof module is not put on in a raw construction state, i.e.before the motor vehicle body is lacquered, but only during finalassembly onto an appropriately modified motor vehicle body. Therelatively large roof opening, too, facilitates thus the assembly of theinterior outfit of the motor vehicle body and of the instrumentationpanel, and the usual temporary disassembly of side doors, if any, may bedispensed with.

It is recommendable to seal an external joint between the folded flangeand the roof panel.

Additional covering and cladding elements are not required, if theproposed procedure is observed.

The U section may have a support for the front window outside in thearea of a front window. In this connection, the roof panel may beprovided with a step in the area of the front window, whose heightroughly corresponds to the thickness of the front window.

Furthermore, the U section may have a support in the door area for theside windows and/or a window pane seal co-acting with the side windows.In this connection, the roof panel in the door area may preferably havea step, whose height roughly corresponds to the thickness of the sidewindow and/or window pane seal.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter inwhich preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a roof panel and of a reinforcing framenot yet connected to it;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view in the area of a front window of aroof module connected to a motor vehicle body;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the object according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the door area;

FIG. 5 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the area of a rearflap;

FIG. 6 is a corresponding vertical sectional view in the door area withanother embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in particular, a roof panel 1 and areinforcing frame 2 belong to the depicted roof module (FIG. 1).

In FIGS. 2 to 6, the same reference symbols designate the same parts.The reinforcing frame 2 or the roof panel 1 have a circumferential edgestrip 10 and/or 13, as well as a folded flange 11 connected thereto. Thefolded flange 11 is transfolded over the edge strip 10 and/or 13 andtogether they form a U section 12. An edge strip 10 and/or 13 of theroof panel 1 and/or reinforcing frame 2 engage into the U-section 12which is bonded with the edge strip 10 and/or 13 via a structuralbonding. The external joint between folded flange 11 and edge strip 10and/or 13 of roof panel 1 or reinforcing frame 2 is sealed with asealing 6 to provide protection from corrosion. A shaped step 4 of roofpanel 1 connects to edge strip 13, so that a support 14 connected toshaped step 4 is mainly flush to the transfolded folded flange 11.

The roof module is fastened in a usual manner with adhesive bonds 5 andscrew connections 8 to the motor vehicle body 3.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 depict the roof module fastened to the motor vehiclebody 3 in the area of the front window. Roof panel 1 and reinforcingframe 2 are supported against each other via an adhesive bond 9 at somedistance from the edge area. In connection to support 14, roof panel 1has a step 15, whose height roughly corresponds to the thickness of anon-depicted front window, so that roof panel 1 is mainly flush outsideto a front window fastened at the edge side on support 14.

FIG. 4 shows a vertical section through the roof module in the doorarea, which is connected to the motor vehicle body 3. Here, too, theedge strip 13 of roof panel 1 passes via a shaped step into a support16, which step 17 is connected to. Support 16 is provided for anon-depicted side door window and/or the pertaining window pane seal.Step 17 has a height that roughly corresponds to the thickness of theside door window pane and/or window pane seal.

FIG. 5 shows the configuration of roof panel 1 in the area of anon-depicted rear flap, with the step in the roof panel being dispensedwith.

FIG. 6 shows a vertical section through the roof module in the door areaconnected to motor vehicle body 3. Here, the edge of roof panel 1 isfolded over the edge strip of reinforcing frame 2.

By way of the measures described hereinabove, the connection of roofpanel 1 to the reinforcing frame 2 is made invisible and/or sealed inall areas.

The roof module can be put onto and fastened to the motor vehicle body 3in the course of final assembly, after the interior outfit has beenintroduced through the existing large roof opening into an appropriatelymodified motor vehicle body and installed there.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

1. A roof module for a motor vehicle body, the roof module comprising: areinforcing frame; and a roof panel fastened to said reinforcing framesaid reinforcing frame or said roof panel having a folded flange at anedge of a U section, and an edge strip of the roof panel or reinforcingframe engages into said U section, said edge strip being bonded to thereinforcing frame or roof panel, wherein a joint is defined by saidfolded flange of said reinforcing frame or said roof panel and by saidroof panel or said reinforcing frame, said joint being sealed by asealing piece, said reinforcing frame having a screw connection locatedat a screw location and bond pads located at a bond location forfastening said motor reinforcing body to the motor vehicle body, wherebya prefabricated and painted roof module is placed on the bondinglocation and is connected to the vehicle body by said screw connectionfrom inside said motor vehicle, said roof panel covering an area that isgreater than a roof opening in the motor vehicle body.
 2. A roof modulepursuant to claim 1, wherein said U section has a support for a frontwindow, said support being located in an area of said front window.
 3. Aroof module pursuant to claim 2, wherein said roof panel has a steplocated in an area of said front window, said step having a heightcorresponding to a thickness of said front window.
 4. A roof modulepursuant to claim 1, wherein said U section has a support for a sidewindow and/or side window pane seal, said support being located in adoor area.
 5. A roof module pursuant to claim 4, wherein said roof panelin the door area has a step, said step having a height corresponding toa thickness of the side window and/or side window pane seal.
 6. A roofmodule pursuant to claim 1, wherein said roof panel and/or reinforcingframe are comprised of pretreated and/or prelacquered metal sheets.
 7. Aroof module for assembly with a motor vehicle body having a roofopening, the roof module comprising: a reinforcing frame; a roof panelfastened to said reinforcing frame, one of said reinforcing frame andsaid roof panel having a folded flange at an edge of a U section with aninner surface and the other of said reinforcing frame and said roofpanel having an edge strip engaging into said U section, said edge striphaving a first surface and an opposite second surface, said firstsurface being disposed opposite said inner surface and bonded to saidinner surface; and sealing material in contact with said folded flangeand said second surface to form a sealing joint between said foldedflange and said edge strip, said reinforcing frame having a screwlocation and bond pads located at a bond location for fastening saidreinforcing body to the motor vehicle body, whereby a prefabricated andpainted roof module is placed on the bonding location and is connectedto the vehicle body by said screw connection from inside said motorvehicle, said roof panel having an area that is greater than the area ofa roof opening.
 8. A roof module pursuant to claim 7, wherein said Usection has a support for the front window, said support being locatedin an area of a front window.
 9. A roof module pursuant to claim 8,wherein said roof panel has a step located in an area of a front window,said step having a height corresponding to the thickness of the frontwindow.
 10. A roof module pursuant to claim 7, wherein said U sectionhas a support for the side window and/or side window pane seal, saidsupport being located in a door area.
 11. A roof module pursuant toclaim 4, wherein said roof panel has a step located in the door area,said step having a height corresponding to the thickness of the sidewindow and/or side window pane seal.
 12. A roof module pursuant to claim7, wherein said roof panel and/or reinforcing frame are comprised ofpretreated and/or prelacquered metal sheets.
 13. The combination of aroof module and a vehicle body having a roof opening, the combinationcomprising: a vehicle body having a roof opening, said vehicle bodyhaving a screw place and a bond place; a prefabricated and painted roofmodule including a reinforcing frame and a roof panel fastened to saidreinforcing frame, one of said reinforcing frame and said roof panelhaving a folded flange at an edge of a U section with an inner surfaceand the other of said reinforcing frame and said roof panel having anedge strip engaging into said U section, said edge strip having a firstsurface and an opposite second surface, said first surface beingdisposed opposite said inner surface and bonded to said inner surface,and sealing material in contact with said folded flange and said secondsurface to form a sealing joint between said folded flange and said edgestrip, said reinforcing frame having a screw location and bond padslocated at a bond location; and screws connecting said roof module tosaid vehicle body, said screws being connected from inside said vehiclebody; and adhesive connecting said bond location of said reinforcingframe to said bond place of said motor vehicle body, said roof panelhaving an area that is greater than the area of the roof opening.